The mysterious death of four members of the same family in Mumbai, the blame of which had been passed on to the watermelon consumed by them hours before they died, has taken a dramatic turn on Friday. Sources privy to the development said that poisoning may have been the cause behind the deaths, instead of the watermelon. Notably, the incident had initially sparked panic over the safety of the summer fruits, and is now being treated with greater forensic scrutiny.
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Reports that emerged earlier claimed that a contaminated watermelon may have led to food poisoning, which eventually turned fatal for the family. Following this, the sales of the fruit were also hit in certain areas. However, new findings have laid bare a far more complex and disturbing possibility.
Who were the ones who died?
The ones who died have been identified as Abdullah Dokadia (45), his wife Nasreen (35) and their daughters Zainab (13) and Ayesha (16). They had hosted a dinner for their kin at home, and served Pulao during this. The guests consumed it, and did not report any adverse effects.
However, after the guests left, the family ate watermelon at around 1 am. By 5 am, all of them were taken ill, and began experiencing severe symptoms like vomitting and diarrhoea. Initially, the symptoms pointed towards food poisoning, and all four succumbed within hours.
The family which died
Organs turned green, reveal forensic findings
Sources said on Friday that preliminary findings have revealed that several internal organs, such as the brain, intestines and heart, had turned green, an indicator which experts say is inconsistent with food poisoning. Medical professionals examining the case also said that the pattern of symptoms and internal damage does not align with usual cases of foodborne ailments, further fuelling suspicions of exposure to toxins.
Another layer surfaced during the probe, when Morphine, a controlled painkiller, was detected in Abdullah’s body. The investigating police personnel are working to ascertain whether this was due to prior medical treatment, accidental ingestion of the drug, or deliberate administration.
Authorities sound caution as probe advances
The State Food and Drug Administration weighed in, saying that no direct link has been established between the deaths and the consumption of watermelon. Authorities added that conclusions will only be drawn after an in-depth scientific analysis. Doctors who carried out the autopsy of the victims have also reserved their final opinion. The viscera samples of the deceased had earlier been sent for a comprehensive chemical analysis, whose results are awaited.